ABSTRACT
The uses of social media in business communication tend to cluster into three areas: communication with potential employees; internal communication; and employees' use of private social media in the workplace. Audiences for social media within the category of strategic writing generally are fellow employees or business associates, such as suppliers or distributors. For college students seeking a job or internship, social media can be a powerful help—or a powerful hindrance. Research shows that most employers frown on non-job-related use of social media during working hours: A hot legal issue today is whether organizations can fire employees for violations of company social media policies. Usage of the programs can extend beyond an internal audience, of course, allowing an organization to collaborate with vendors or other business partners. Organizations that have found beneficial ways to address private social media use during working hours tend to have a similar approach: They ask their employees to help them create realistic policies.
